Bogdan Deliu

Leatherworker

©Daniel Olaru

The alchemy of leathercraft

Bogdan loves to experiment with colours, shapes and textures
He draws inspiration from Romanian motifs
He is very particular about the materials he uses

After several years spent in graphic design, Bogdan Deliu started making leather goods in 2012. A year later he opened his own workshop and he has dedicated his entire time, knowledge and creativity to this craft ever since. He is self-taught and loves being a one man show in managing his handmade business. He often reinterprets Romanian motifs in the making of unique creations, which go beyond the traditional leather craftsmanship of local artisans. Bogdan pays great attention to the type of leather he works with, always choosing the material that allows him to bring to life the designs he envisions. He considers himself a modern alchemist who experiments with colours, shapes and textures and rarely uses the leather as it is.

Interview

©Paul Firan

©Daniel Olaru

Have you always had a creative profession?: I have worked in 3D design for ten years and this experience helps me now in making patterns and designing on vector graphics software, which allows me to achieve better precision. Every end product involves three distinct stages: computerised design, handmade leatherwork and manual stitching.
Why did you choose leatherworking?: I wanted to switch from what I did before to something that involved working with my hands and creating physical objects, while still relying heavily on imagination and creativity. I have always admired natural, raw materials and leathercraft seemed to be a natural choice.
How do you describe what you do?: I feel like an alchemist when working with leather. I love experimenting and challenging myself to create the objects exactly as they appear in my sketches. Nothing makes me happier than coming up with a visually complex and functional item, made of a primordial material such as leather.
Can you describe a memorable moment as a leatherworker?: I remember the first leather fair I attended with my creations. I had the chance to talk to visitors for the first time about my products and handmade work. It was humbling, exciting and very rewarding to see that people appreciated my designs and congratulated me for what I did.

Bogdan Deliu is a master artisan: he began his career in 2013 and he started teaching in 2017